"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." ~ Martin Luther King Jr. ~
When I think of leadership, the first image that registers in my mind is 'principle'. I strongly believe that leadership is a lifetime journey which begins with guiding principles. Along this journey, one will get to learn and unlearn certain things. As a leader, one has to be responsive in situations that are pressing especially when disaster strikes like COVID-19 did.
In the early part of this year, the entire world was shocked by news of the Corona virus which started in Wuhan, China. Within the span of a month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak as a global crisis. This pandemic, like any that have occurred in the past, has ravaged lives and the economy of every human being and nation under the sun. It has interrupted businesses, institutions and day to day lives of citizens all over the globe.
It is true that our lives have been affected greatly by the current world affairs, and I could not help it but gather some leadership lessons/tips that I believe all leaders must add to their tool kit.
- Communicate effectively: Instead of keeping quiet or being nonchalant, leaders need to communicate frequently and effectively in times such as these. Followers expect to hear about the path into the future and even if a leader doesn't have the answers readily available, he or she is still expected to keep the people informed of what he/she is doing, working on or plan to do. In communicating frequently, a leader conveys a message of empathy, care and understanding of the people and their emotions during these challenging times.
- Be positive and optimistic: As a youth leader, the current crisis helped me to recognize the challenges of being positive and optimistic in the midst of disaster, however, I also realized the power of this leadership skill especially for leaders of corporations, enterprises, nations and families. In a time when many people have lost their jobs and income due to closures of businesses and companies, leaders must be available to share solutions with optimism.
- Be open to change: In order for a leader to navigate change successfully, he or she must be creative and a good listener. Leaders who listen to followers, and, are tuned into their emotions and needs, are the ones who create innovative ideas to chart the course for the future. I have come to accept that change is an inevitable part of our lives and for a leader, it is an important tool in his or her toolkit.The pandemic and its social distancing requirements have literally imposed changes to humanity. For instance, I have always enjoyed going to school almost every day but recently, all students in The Gambia and most parts of the world are forced to explore and embrace online learning despite all the challenges it poses to students and teachers.
- Focus on the vision: When we kicked off our mentorship program for 2020, the Coaches of Influence Foundation (COIF) leadership team shared a solid vision for the program. By the beginning of March, they were confronted with the challenges that the pandemic and lockdown presented and instead of being rigid, they applied some flexibility strategies to keep the program moving. I learned then that when leaders have a vision, they can continue to sail even amid storms. This year has been very challenging for leaders at all levels and during such times, it is very easy for anyone to lose focus of their goals. In a time when many people believe that the world is coming to an end, many people have lost hope in the future, yet leaders are expected to stay focused on the vision otherwise, they can easily fail.
- Make the right decisions: Whether in good times or not, decision making is part of a leader's daily responsibilities. And because some decisions can destroy rather than build the people, leaders must groom their skill of decision-making. I have come to realize that inspiring people and turning ideas into action are major aspects of leadership hence, decision-making skill is a valuable tool a leader cannot do without if they desire to be impactful in their journey.
It is apparent that leaders at all levels are uncertain about the length and breadth of the pandemic, however, they are still expected to continue to lead with efficiency. Like many others I am representing in this piece, people expect transparency from their leaders. I invite all leaders to embark on the journey of revisiting and realigning their vision, values and morale in order to lead authentically and experience success while in the seat.
Author: Samuel Mendy
Editor: Dr. Margaret Ellis